Preheater and conditioner unit



' June 23, 1953 w, RI 2,642,676

PREI-IEATER AND GONDITIONER UNIT Filed June 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l[raven $01 Jazz Zdfikgzkzzm ways C. W. GRIMM PREHEATER AND CONDITIONERUNIT June 23, 1953 Filed June 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FILE. 2

v [n merator/ CZZ'zjZ Macaw wa s June 23, 1953 c. w. GRIMM PREHEATER ANDCONDITIONER UNIT 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 Filed June 14, '1950 Patented June23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs Carl W. Grimm, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Henry Pratt Companm'a corporation of Illinois ApplicationJune 14, 1950, Serial No. 168,126

6 Claims. (Cl. 34-1-22) This invention relates to apparatus forconditioning paper'strips, and more particularly-to an improvedpreheater and coriditioner unit for controlling the moisture content ofa paper strip used in making corrugated paper. The preheater andconditioner unit is adapted-to apply moisture to a paper strip and tocontrol the moisture content by passing the strip in contact with theouter surface of a heated roll. 'i'

a The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved unit forconditioning paper strips wherein a guiding unit is circumferentallyadjustable about a conditioner roll to vary the amount of surface of theconditioner rollin contact with the paper strip and a moistening unit isprovided on the guiding unit in such a manner that the moistening unitwill always remain upright.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred em- Y bodiment in theaccompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an elevational View of thepreheater and conditioner unit partly broken away; Figs 2, an endelevational view of the unit shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a diagrammaticvertical sectional view of a portion of a corrugating unit showing oneposition in which the unit may be placed.

The preheater and conditionerunit has a base frame 1 supporting aconditioner roll journalled in bearings 6. The conditioner roll may beof the type disclosed in Grimm Patent No. 2,374,745. The conditionerroll is driven by an electric motor (not shown) connected with a drivewheel '1. One shaft of the roll is hollow to receive a high pressuresteam connection (not shown).

A paper strip 8, which is to be conditioned, passes to the preheatingand conditioning unit where it contacts the guide roll 9 of the guidingunit ll], passes over the surface of the conditioner roll 5 and aroundan idler roll l I, then passes on to the next apparatus in thecorrugating unit. The guiding unit In is attached by members I2 to thewebs of a pair of gears l3, each of which is journalled on the frame 4at an end of and coaxially with the roll 5. The guide roll is journalledin the members 12, and by rotating the gears l3 the position of theguide roll may be adjusted circumferentiall of the conditioner roll 5,to vary the amount of surface of the roll in contact with the paperstrip 8. The gears l3 may be moved by a rotatable drive mechanismconsisting of gears It on shaft 15, associated gearing l6 and motor ll.The motor may be manually controlled and limit switches l8, I9,

mounted onthe frame and: gear cover 2!} respectively,'limit thecircumferential movement of the guiding unit by stopping motor llwhen'th'e guiding unit contacts either switch The idler roll I l is journalled on pivoted arms 21 from the other end 'off'which a "bar" 22'depends""for receiving Weights to vary the weight of the idler roll onthe paper strip. This "roll does' 'not, ho'we ve'r, materially changeits position relative to the condltlOILBITI'OIl. i f i t A pairofhrac'kets :23 are pivotally mounted on" the? members 1210f theguidingunit and-are each connected by a link 24 to the base frame. Asillustrated in Fig. 2, the links 24 tilt the brackets to maintain themin upright position in all positions of the guiding unt. A second guideroll 25 is journalled in the brackets and so positioned that the paperstrip 8 contacts both rolls 25 and 9 before coming in contact with theconditioner roll 5. Positioned between the rolls 25 and 9 are a pair offluid conduits 26, 21, having opposed openings or nozzles for directinga moistening fluid (usually steam) onto both sides of the paper strip 8.A fluid connection 28 supplies the conduits with moistening steam, theamount being controlled by a valve (not shown).

As shown in Fig. 3, a paper strip 8 is borne from the roll 29 to theguiding unit II) where it may be moistened, then around the conditionerroll 5 where the strip is heated. The strip then passes to a gluingmachine 30 where the strip 8 is brought into contact with a corrugatedstrip 3|; It is important that the strip 8 have the proper moisturecontent which may be easily and accurately controlled by the preheaterand conditioner unit.

The foregoing detailed'description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled inthe art.

I claim: Y

1. A unit for conditioning paper strips, comprising: a frame; aconditioner roll journalled in said frame and adapted to heat a paperstrip in contact with its outer surface; a guiding unit; supportinmechanism on said frame for holding the guiding unit in selectedpositions about the conditioner roll; a first guide roll journalled insaid unit with its axis parallel to the axis of said conditioner roll; apair of brackets pivotally suspended from said first guide roll; asecond guide roll parallel to the first guide roll and journalled insaid brackets; and mechanism for holding said brackets in uprightposition.

2. A unit for conditioning paper strips as specified in claim 1, inwhich a fluid conduit is supported by said brackets adjacent the guideroll for directing fluid against a paper strip traveling toward theconditioner roll.

3. A unit for conditioning paper strips, comprising: a frame; aconditioner roll journalled in said frame and adapted to heat a paperstrip in contact with its outer surface; a guiding unit; supportingmechanism on said frame for holding the guiding unit at selectivepositions about said roll; a guide roll journalled in said unit with itsaxis parallel to the axis of the conditioner roll; brackets on saidguiding unit linked to' the base frame to maintain said brackets inupright position; and a second guide roll journalled in said brackets.

4. In a corrugating unit for making a corrugated paper strip assembly, apreheater and conditioner, comprising: a base frame; a conditioner rolljournalled in said frame and adapted to heat a paper strip in contactwith its outer surface; a pair of gears each journalled on the framecoaxially with the conditioner roll; a guiding unit supported by saidgears for circumferential movement about said roll; a first guide rolljournalled in said unit with its axis parallel to the axis of theconditoner roll; said guiding unit being provided with brackets linkedto the base frame for maintaining said brackets upright; a second guideroll journalled in the brackets; spaced fluid conduits supported on saidbrackets between the guide rolls and provided with opposed openings fordirecting fluid against both sides of a paper strip traveling toward theconditioner roll; and rotatable drive mechanism having driving gearsmeshed with said gears for turning said gears simultaneously to adjustthe position of the guide 7 unit.

5. A preheater and conditioner as specified in claim 4, in which thebrackets are maintained in a position such that the axes of the guiderolls will lie in parallel planes in all positions of the guiding unitrelative to the conditioner roll.

6. A preheater and conditioner as specfied in claim 4, in which thedrive mechanism includes a. motor for moving the guide unit andautomatic limit switches are provided on the frame for controlling saidmotor and limiting the circumferential movement of the guiding unitabout the conditioner roll.

CARL W. GRIMM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED .STATES PATENTS Apgaret a1. May 4, 1948

